Low Carbon Ready

High Voltage (HV) Auto Quote

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What the project is about How we’re doing it What makes it innovative What we’re learning

Project Data

Start date:

01/09/2022

End date:

11/11/2023

Budget:

£2,919,280

Summary

High Voltage (HV) Auto Quote is a tool that automates the process of customer applications for new connections to our high voltage network. Previously, it could take weeks for a customer to receive a formal quote, this can now be achieved in minutes

What is the project about?

Applying for a new high voltage connection previously involved several manual and time-consuming steps. These applications ranged from budget estimates — where customers were looking for a rough cost — to firm connection offers, which provided a more detailed and accurate quote. Sometimes, customers requested multiple quotes for similar projects at different locations, a process known as “optioneering,” to determine the most cost-effective site for their development.

When an application was submitted, UK Power Networks carried out a series of assessments, including site visits when necessary, to prepare either a budget estimate or a firm connection offer. Depending on the complexity of the request, this process could take several days or even weeks. It was time-consuming for customers and resource-heavy for UK Power Networks.

Even after receiving a quote, customers often came back with questions — particularly about the costs or the connection point — because they didn’t have access to information about the nearest available network connection.

HV Auto Quote streamlined this entire process. By automating many of the steps, it allowed customers to receive quotes within minutes — often without needing to involve a designer.

How we’re doing it

HV Auto Quote offered a streamlined platform that provided three levels of quotes, depending on what the customer needed.

First, there was the Optioneering tool, which let customers explore different locations on a map and view historical price ranges for each area. This helped them compare options and choose the most cost-effective site for their project.

For those who wanted a Budget Estimate, customers could enter details about their proposed development, then use the map to draw the site boundary and mark where the new substation would be located. The platform highlighted nearby cables with enough capacity to support the connection, and customers could sketch a route from the substation to the preferred connection point.

If a formal Connection Offer was required, customers simply provided a few additional details, and the system automatically generated and issued the offer.

At any point, if the customer needed help, they could refer the application to a Designer, who would follow up directly to complete the process. In most cases, though, customers received their quotes within minutes — and even when a Designer was involved, the process was still significantly faster than before.

What makes it innovative

While other networks offered tools that could generate Budget Estimates, HV Auto Quote stood out as the first to automatically create and issue formal Connection Offers. This innovation was made possible by incorporating the ability to automatically calculate traffic management requirements — such as the number of temporary traffic lights or road closures needed for the work.

What we’re learning

  • The project successfully met its goals by enabling self-service functionality for high voltage connection offers between 300 kVA and 1 MVA, and for budget estimates covering connections from 300 kVA up to 2.5 MVA.

    During testing, HV Auto Quote consistently produced connection offers within ±10% of those manually calculated by designers. This gave the team confidence that the tool could deliver reliable and consistent quotes based on the information provided by customers.

    Throughout development and testing, several key lessons emerged:

    Data availability and quality: Having accurate and accessible digital data about the network was essential for the tool to function effectively.

    Structured approach to testing: A robust, ongoing testing process throughout the project lifecycle was critical to identifying and resolving issues early — preventing delays near the end of the project.

    Clear user requirements and specifications: Clearly defining what the tool needed to deliver at each stage helped ensure the final product met expectations and was fit for purpose.

    System integration: Identifying the external systems the tool needed to connect with, and planning for that integration early on, helped reduce technical issues and avoid unnecessary delays.

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